The Sheffield Steelers kicked off their league campaign with a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Belfast Giants. Belfast took an early lead with a powerplay goal by Jordan Kawaguchi in the first period, but the Steelers equalised in the second, thanks to a powerplay strike from Daniel Leavens.

The Steelers dominated the third period, outshooting the Giants 17-6, and took the lead through Mitchell Balmas. However, Belfast’s Elijah Barriga tied the game late, sending it to overtime. After a scoreless extra period, the game went to a shootout, where Balmas scored three perfect penalty shots to secure the win.

The Steelers will now face the Nottingham Panthers in Challenge Cup action on Saturday.

First Period [0-1] – Giants Take Early Lead as Steelers Behind After Twenty in EIHL Opener

The Belfast Giants grabbed an early lead with a powerplay goal, edging the Sheffield Steelers 1-0 after the first period in the Steelers’ EIHL league opener. A series of penalties early on put Sheffield on the back foot, as Mark Simpson and Brien Diffley were both sent to the box, resulting in a brief 5-on-3 powerplay for the Giants.

Though the Steelers managed to kill off the two-man disadvantage, they couldn’t return to full strength before Jordan Kawaguchi struck. At 3:23, Kawaguchi, assisted by Mark Cooper, fired a shot from the right circle of the Steelers net that deflected off Matt Greenfield’s blocker and rolled over his shoulder for the game’s first goal.

Despite the early setback, the Steelers began to find their footing as the period progressed. Finlay Ulrick created some chances, using his speed to cause problems for the Giants’ defence. He generated a dangerous backhand shot and later worked a give-and-go to force a scramble in front of Giants goaltender Tom McCollom.

McCollom had a moment of panic later in the period, giving the puck away behind his own goal, but Sheffield couldn’t capitalise on the mistake. Both teams saw decent chances, with the Steelers outshooting the Giants 8-5 by the end of the period.

The Steelers’ powerplay was set loose when Mark Cooper took a slashing penalty, but Belfast successfully killed it off. Janituinen had the best opportunity during the man advantage but missed the target, firing high and into the plexiglass.

As the period closed, Mitchell Balmas had one final opportunity from a tight angle, but McCollom held strong, leaving the Giants with a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.

Second Period [1-1] – Steelers Tie Game with Powerplay Goal, Set for Final Period Showdown

The Steelers levelled the score at 1-1 against the Giants in the second period, thanks to a powerplay goal by Daniel Leavens. The Steelers continued to outshoot their opponents, leading the shot count 16-12, as the game evened out following a first period in which the Giants were favourites.

Early in the second period, the Giants found themselves down two men after Gabe Bast was called for hooking Steelers captain Robert Dowd, followed by Bo Hanson’s delay of game penalty. The Steelers capitalized on the 5-on-3 advantage just as the Giants returned to four skaters. Leavens received a pass from Mikko Juusola in front of Giants’ goalie Tom McCollom and fired a shot over his shoulder to tie the game at 1-1, with Mitchell Balmas adding the secondary assist.

The period then took a bizarre turn as the Steelers found themselves on back-to-back penalty kills, including a lengthy delayed penalty sequence that left the Steelers stuck on the ice without a line change. Despite the pressure, Sheffield’s penalty killers worked hard to keep the Giants off the scoreboard, successfully killing both Dowd’s high-sticking and Daniel Ciampini’s cross-checking penalties.

The final minutes of the period saw no major scoring chances, and the teams headed into the third period tied 1-1, setting the stage for a thrilling final 20 minutes.

Third Period, Overtime & Penalties [3-2] – Steelers Edge Giants in Penalty Shootout Thriller

In a heart-stopping final twenty-five minutes on competition, the Steelers triumphed in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw against the Belfast Giants in regulation and overtime. The teams battled for 65 minutes, but it was Mitchell Balmas who sealed the win for the Steelers with a hat-trick of perfect penalty shots, earning him the Man of the Match award.

The third period saw plenty of drama; no penalties and but both sides exchanging chances throughout. The Steelers dominated, outshooting the Giants 17-6, but it was goals that mattered. At 47:46, Balmas gave Sheffield the lead, finishing off a play started by Patrick Watling, who set him up at the crease. Leavens also grabbed an assist, marking a strong effort from the full line.

As the Steelers looked to close out the game, the Giants found a way back. In the dying minutes, Josh Roach fed Elijah Barriga, who beat Matt Greenfield at the far post to tie the game 2-2, forcing overtime.

Overtime was electric, with chances for both teams, but neither side could find a winner. Mikko Juusola’s speed caused problems for the Giants, and both goalies came up with crucial saves to keep the game level as it headed to a shootout.

In the penalty shootout, Balmas proved to be the hero, scoring all three of his attempts. Meanwhile, Greenfield denied all but two of Belfast’s efforts, with only Ben Lake and Scott Conway converting for the Giants. Balmas’ stellar performance secured a hard-fought victory for the Steelers.

The Steelers will next face the Nottingham Panthers at home in Challenge Cup action on Saturday, followed by a trip to Dundee to take on the Stars in league play.

Lane closures will take place on the A6109 Brightside Lane between Janson Street and Weedon Street, as well as a small section of A6109 Meadowhall Road. These closures will be in effect on the weekends of 5th/6th, 12th/13th, and 19th/20th October. Traffic will be reduced to one-way toward the city, which may cause delays.